The global population is estimated to be at 6 million individuals across more than 20 subspecies. These owls also feed on hawks, crows, waterfowl, and other birds, including smaller owls. In the United States, as well as in many countries of Central and South America, the great horned owl is a common bird that may be seen across the country. Range: Amongst the world's most adaptable owls, great horned owls can be found across North America in deciduous, coniferous, mixed forests, prairies, mountains, deserts, subarctic tundra, rocky coasts, mangrove swamp, and some urban areas.ĭiet: Most (up to 90%) of a great horned owl's diet consists of mice, voles, squirrels, and other small mammals. Location: North, Central, and South America. Sound: They produce a deep, soft hoots with a stuttering rhythm: hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo. The bare portion of their toes is a light brownish gray, with black tipped talons. The largest of all owl species occurring in Alabama and the southeast, the great horned owl stands approximately 18 to 25 inches tall and has a wingspan up. They have a white and brown face with a distinctive locket of white at the throat. Many people recognize and identify this owl. Weight: Great horned owls generally weigh between 2.2 and 3.8 pounds.Ĭolor: They have a large head and body with yellow, forward-directed eyes. The Great Horned Owl is named for its large, conspicuous ear tufts, which resemble horns perched atop its head. Length: Great horned owls can be 19 to 35 inches tall, with a wingspan of about 4.6 feet.

Great horned owl wingspan